Carrier link mechanism for flexible supply lines

ABSTRACT

A series of links designed to provide limited articulated movement while supporting flexible supply lines, with each link having a cam portion adjacent its pivot point which engages the cam surface of a pivot pin to limit pivotable movement therebetween and maximum pivotable movement with the adjacent link mounted on the same pivot pin.

Unlted States Patent 11 1 1111 3,782,670 Kielma Jan. 1, 1974 15 CARRIERLINK MECHANISM FOR 3,503,579 3 1970 Kurlandsky 248/51 FLEXIBLE SUPPLYLINES 3,504,864 4/1970 Kurlandksy 248/51 3,053,358 9/1962 Gross 248/68 RX Inventor: rv n J- n ukee, Wis. 814,354 3/1906 Carter 16/166 Assignee:A & A Manufacturing p y, 863,214 8/1907 Phelps 287/14 X Inc., NewBerlin, Wis, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [22] Filed: Feb 10 19721,075,974 7/1967 Great Britain 59/78.1 177,348 1/1954 Germany l6/l28.l[2]] Appl. NO.1 225,240 248,002 5/1963 Australia 299/82 52 US. Cl248/51, 59/78.l, 248/68 R f' Emmif1eFraZier ROY 51 int. Cl. F161 3/0043mm"! Bonck [58] Field Of Search 248/51, 52, 68; Attorney-Elm Wutschel83, 84 [57] ABSTRACT A series of links designed to provide limitedarticu- [56] References C'ted lated movement while supporting flexiblesupply lines, UNITED STATES PATENTS with each link having a cam portionadjacent its pivot 2,899,159 8/1959 Leblang 248/68 R X point whichengages the cam surface of a pivot pin to 553,650 1/1896 Kingsland 59/78X limit pivotable movement therebetween and maximum 3,448,954 6/1968Kurlandskym- 243/51 pivotable movement with the adjacent link mounted3,330,105 7/1967 Weber 59/78.1 on the Same pivot pin 3,448,953 6/1969Kurlandsky.... 248/51 3.503.578 3/1970 Kurlandsky 248/51 7 Claims, 9Drawing Figures 111 Z @"IW'Q; "11"@ Z@ l 1 CARRIER LINK MECHANISM FORFLEXIBLE SUPPLY LINES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Machines such asmachine tools, presses and the like have movable elements, requiring asource of electricity, hydraulic fluids, air, and lubricants which aresupplied by means of flexible cables and hoses. In order to providecontinuous protection for such cables, it is desirable that a carriermechanism be operative to hold abrasive and chafing damage to theexterior of the cable or hose to a minimum and to restrict the bendingthereof to a predetermined minimum radius whereby lateral or tensileloads exceeding tolerable limits which ultimately cause the collapse ofa hose or serverance of a cable are prevented.

Various types of chains or carriers have been utilized for this purposeand have met with limited success. Some have functional limitations, orare physically hazardous to the operator; others are expensive tomanufacture or maintain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thus, in order to improve upon the prior art asexemplifying the mechanisms in present day use, the general objective isto provide a new and improved carrier link assembly readily operative tocontinuously support flexible supply lines throughout their full rangeof movement. The assembly is trackless and selfsupporting. The inventionis based on a new configuration of link members, including a two-stepcam portion at each pivot point. When assembled with an adjoining linkmember likewise having a two-step cam portion, each pair ofinterconnected links is movable relative to each other. Both camportions operate on cam flats on the circumference of the pivot pinabout which the two link members may pivot within the range of twolimiting positions. The angular position of the cam portion relative tothe longitudinal axis of the link member serves to fixedly limit themaximum range of movement of one link member to another. Thus, theselected angular position would need to be greater in link membersdesigned to operate in a mechanism wherein cables or hoses were to beflexed in a relatively smaller radius, and conversely, smaller in thosecases where cables or hoses were to be flexed in a relatively largerradius. An intermediate bar secured between a spaced pair of carrierlink mechanisms serves to carry the cables or hoses per se.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The preferred form of the invention is shown inthe drawings; it is to be understood, however, that the subjectinvention is not necessarily limited to the precise arrangements andinstrumentalities therein shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a machine showing a carrier link assemblyhaving one end secured to the base of the machine and the other endsecured to a movable member thereof;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of a segment of the chain link mechanismshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top sectional view of a portion of a chain link assemblyshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of two pivotally joined carrier links campositioned in one restricted position whereby the two links remain inlongitudinal alignment;

FIG. 5 is a side view similar to FIG. 4 in which the two links are campositioned on the pivot pin whereat the two links are disposed in anintermediate angular position;

FIG. 6 is a side view similar to FIGS. 4 and 5 in which the two carrierlinks are cam positioned in a second restricted position whereby the twolinks are at a maximum angular position relative to one another;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the individual elements priorto assembly which comprise a pair of link members when assembled into acarrier link mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a modified version of a carrier link mechanism; and

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a carrier link mechanism ofthe type shown in FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS I Referring to the drawings inspecific detail, there is shown in FIG. 1 a machine 10 comprised of abase 11 with a movable member 12 slidably operable on supporting ways13. On certain machines, the movable members require a source ofelectricity, liquids, air, coolants and the like for use in connectionwith some functional or other operation. Delivery thereof isaccomplished by means of flexible cables and hoses. This, in turn,creates a problem in that such cables and hoses are subjected toabrasive wear and damage from constant exposure and indiscriminateflexing, and the bending radius to which they are subjected must belimited to a predetermined minimum to prevent failure of the cables andhoses.

A carrier link assembly 14 is provided as a solution to this problem.One end of the assembly is secured to the machine base by an anchor lugl5 bolted thereto. The other end of the assembly is fixedly secured toan end of the movable member 12 by means of an end link 16. The carrierlink assembly is designed to supportably carry any desired number ofcables or hoses of like or varying sizes and configurations. The radiusof the carrier link assembly 14 between the base 11 and the movablemember 12 is established by the construction of the carrier linkassembly as will be described.

The details of the carrier link assembly 14 are best viewed in FIGS. 2,3 and 7, and include a pair of carrier link mechanisms 20 and 21 spacedapart to contain spacing bars 22. The bars 22 serve to carry cables orhoses 23 of varying sizes and configurations, in spaced apertures 24.The length of each bar 22 is dependent on the number of hoses and cablesto be supported and carried by the assembly 14.

The two carrier link mechanisms 20 and 21 are each comprised ofalternate identical pairs of link members 25A and 25B interconnected bypivot pins 26 to permit articulate movement between the link members.All link members are preferably of identical size and configuration.

As readily seen in FIGS. 3 and 7, the alternate link members 25A and 25Bare each made up of two identical members 27 with those in 25A disposedin face to face relationship while those in 25B each overlay the exposedfaces of the stampings in member 25A. The members 27 may be fabricatedin a variety of manners, such as by casting, molding, machining or thelike but for economical reasons it has been found preferable to formthem by a stamping process. Since the members or stampings 27 which makeup the two articulate members are identical, this enables rapid assemblyin manufacture and service during use. It should be apparent, however,that the members 27 could be of sufficiently thick stock to enable theassembly of single stampings as link members without foregoing theteachings of this invention.

The members 27, as shown in FIG. 7, are each provided with two spacedopenings 28 having an inside diameter 29 fitted to bear on the outerdiameter of the pin 26. In addition, the configuration of the openingincludes two cam sections 30 and 31 each having two angularly disposedflats which operate and controllably limit the range of articulatedmovement of each pair of links in the carrier link mechanisms.

As shown in FIG. 7, flats 32 and 33 compliment flats 32' and 33'respectively so that they cooperate with each other to partiallyestablish the limits of angular movement of a link 25A relative to aconnected link 258. Thus, the flats 32 and 32 are parallel to eachother, so that the flat 32 will engage one of a pair of parallelydisposed faces 36 on the pin 26 while the flat 32' will simultaneouslyabut the opposite face 36' to limit the angular movement of the link 25Arelative to the pin 26, in one direction.

Likewise, flats 34 and 35 compliment flats 34 and 35 respectively, sothat they cooperate with each other to partially establish the limits ofangular movement between a link 25A relative to a connected link 258.The flats 34 and 34' are parallel to each other, so that the flat 34will engage face 36 on the pin 26 while the flat 34' will simultaneouslyabut the opposite face 36 thereof to limit angular movement of the link258. Since the links 25A and 25B are both mounted on the same pin 26,the angular movement between the link 25A and the pin 26 and betweenlink 25B and pin 26 establishes the total amount of angular movementbetween a given pair of links in a single direction.

The limit of angular movement of link 25A relative to link 25B in theopposite direction is controlled by the cam flats 33 and 33' on the link25A and the cam flats 35 and 35 on the link 258. Thus, parallely relatedflats 33 and 33' will simultaneously engage the faces 36 and 36' on thepin 26 to limit the angular movement between the link 25A and the pin26. Also, the flats 34 and 34' on the link 25B upon engagement with pinfaces 36 and 36' will determine the limit of angular movement betweenthe link 25B and the pin 26. Thus, the movement of the link 25A relativeto the pin 26 plus the movement of the link 258 relative to the pin 26will determine the total angular movement between a connected pair oflinks 25A and 258 in the opposite direction.

It should be noted that the angular relationship between the flats 32and 33 as well as between the flats 32' and 33' on link 25A, designatedas Angle A (FIG. 7.) is identical to the angular relationship betweenthe flats 34 and 35 as well as the flats 34 and 35 on link 258. Thus,the greater the angle A between the cam flats, the lesser the degree ofmovement between a pair of links, while a smaller angular A relationshipbetween the cam flats will permit a greater degree of movement between apair of links.

While the configurations of the opening 28, including the cam flatportions, is identical in the links 25A and 2513, it should be notedthat such openings are angularly offset from the longitudinal base lineof the link by a predetermined angle designated as B; also, that theopening 28 at the opposite end of each link is offset by the sameangular amount (B) but in the opposite direction. Thus, cam flats 32, 32on link 25A will be in alignment with the two of the flats in theopening at the opposite end of the link. However, the other two camflats 33, 33' on the same link will not be in alignment with the relatedflats in the opening at the opposite end of the link. The same conditionprevails as to the openings in link 253.

The illustrated embodiment in FIG. 1 shows an arrangement in which thelink assembly is curvable in a predetermined fixed radius in onedirection with the remaining portion being retained in a straight linebecause the flats 32, 32, 35 and 35 are disposed in a plane parallel tothe longitudinal base line of the links. However, if such flats weredisposed otherwise than in such related parallel plane to the base line,the link assembly could be designed to provide a predeterminedcontrolled curvature in both directions depending upon the requirementsfor a particular application to a machine. In either case, theoperational radius of the link assembly would be established by theangular relationship of the flat in the link openings 28. While eachpair of links is controllably limited in movement, the sum total of apredetermined number of links will establish the radius in which a givenlink assembly will operate to carry hoses or cables while a member 12 ofa ma chine 10 is moving on the ways thereof.

The operation of the flats of the links 25A and 258 in combination withthe flats 36,36 on the pivot pin 26 is best seen in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. Inthese views, the link 25A is behind the link 258. In FIG. 4, the twolinks are retained in the straight line relationship. The link 25A hasits flats 32 and 32'in engagement with the two faces 3636 on the pivotpin 26 and the link 25B has its two flats 35 and 35 in engagement withthe pin faces. Because of this arrangement the links cannot pivotupwardly from this position and, therefore, cannot sag but are retainedin a straight line.

However, the two links 25A and 258 can pivot in the opposite directionand in FIGS. 5 and 6, the link 25B is shown pivoting downwardly in twostages. In FIG. 5 the pivot pin 26 is retained in the same position asin FIG. 4 but the link 258 has pivoted on the pin 26 and relative to thelink 25A, and in doing so has moved flats 3535' out of engagement withthe faces 36-36' on the pivot pin 26. However, the flats 3434 now arebrought into engagement with the faces 36-36 on the pivot pin 26to limitsuch movement of 25B in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG.5.

However, since the pivot pin 26 is not fixed to the link 25A, it canalso be pivoted relative to the link 25A, enabling the link 258 to pivotfurther relative to the link 25A to the position shown in FIG. 6. Thispivotal movement of the pin 26 continues until its faces 36--36' engagethe flats 33-33' of the link 25A. The total movement of the twoconnected links is dependent upon the movement of each with respect tothe pins 26.

It should be understood that the pin 26 may be secured as an integralpart of one of the links. In this case the amount of pivotal movementfor a given angle of the flats on the links would be halved. Thus, ifthe pin 26 were fixed to the link 25A in the illustrated embodiment, thepivotal movement of link 258 from the position shown in FIG. 4 to theposition shown in FIG. 5

would be available but it would then not be pivotable to the positionshown in FIG. 6 relative to the link A.

In the illustrated embodiment there are shown two links 25A alternatedbetween the links 25B which are also disposed in pairs. The links arelaminated in pairs to provide the desired strength and yet permit thelinks to be readily stamped from blanks. The links could be fabricatedof heavier material so that single links would follow each other insuccession to form the assembly.

The full range of articulate movement is precisely limited in the manneraforedescribed. Such movement is forceably effected as the member 12moves on ways on the base 11 of a machine 10. The camming occurs inreverse sequence when the movable member 12 moves in the oppositedirection on the base; at this time, the link member 258 will move in aclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 5 and 6 to again bring the linksinto a straight or longitudinal alignment. Naturally, the cables and/orhoses 23 supported in the carrier assembly 14 will be flexedaccordingly.

For ready assembly, the one end of the pin 26 is provided with ashoulder 37 disposed to engage. one side of a pair of assembled links(25A-B), while the other side is engaged and retained by a snap lockring 38 disposed in a groove 39 adjacent the other end of the pin 26.Thus, the links 25A and 25B are constantly retained in diagonalalignment.

It should be apparent that a carrier link assembly constructed in theaforementioned manner affords a considerable improvement over thevarious types of supplyline support mechanisms known heretofore. Thereduction in number and simplification in design of the parts used inthe assembly has resulted in a chain link assembly which can be adaptedto carry a wide range of types and sizes of supply cables and/or hoses.In addition, the link member and pivot pin design provides a means forcarrying a greater load continuously during machine operation withreduced down time for repairs and preventative maintenance than waspreviously possible. With the aforedescribed link mechanism, the

camming control is fully enclosed to provide protection againstcontaminents and to prevent injury to persons accidently engaging thelink assembly.

A modified application of the same principles of this invention is shownin FIGS. 8 and 9. In this case, links 40 and 41 of identicalconfiguration are assembled for articulate movement on a pin 42. Theconfigured openings 43 in each end of the links are dimensionedto'permit the links to be rotatably carried on the pin 42 and arefurther provided with inwardly projecting cams 44 and 45 oppositelydisposed to fit in a pair of oppositely disposed cam slots 46 and 47,respectively, in the pin 42. The angular orientation of the openings 43relative to the longitudinal base line of the link, likewise,predetermines the limits of relative movement between pairs of links, aswell as the radial operational range of the carrier link assembly.

The present invention may be embodied in other forms of art departingfrom the spirit of potential attributes thereof described, and,accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, ratherthan to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of theinvention.

l claim:

1. In a support for flexible conduit; a plurality of support barscarrying the flexible conduit; a link assembly fixed to each side ofsaid support bars, each of the links therein having an opening at eachend; each of said openings having an axis extending transversely of saidlinks; a plurality of pins with each pin having an axis and extendinginto one of the openings of at least two links with the axes of saidpins remaining fixed relative to the axes of said openings to connecttwo successive links together for relative pivotal movement so that theplurality of links are connected together to form a chain on each sideof said support bars with the two chains carrying the support bars andthe flexible conduit carried thereby; limiting means on each of saidpins; and restricting means on said links for engagement with thelimiting means on said pins to limit the pivotal movement between twosuccessive links to thereby establish the minimum radius that will beformed by the chain.

2. A support according to claim 1 wherein said limiting means on each ofsaid pins comprises a cam face; and said restricting means in said linkcomprises a cam stop for engagement with the cam face on the cooperatingpin to limit the pivotal movement of the link relative to the pin.

3. A support according to claim 2 wherein said cam stop on said linkcomprises a flat formed in the opening of said link complementary to thecam face on said pin for engagement therewith to limit the pivotalmovement of the links relative to the pin.

4. A support according to claim 2 wherein said cam stop on said linklimits the pivotal movement of said link relative to said pin in onedirection, and said restricting means includes a second stop forengagement withe the cam face on the cooperating pin to limit thepivotal movement of the links relative to the pin in the oppositedirection.

5. A support according to claim 4 wherein said stops are two flatsformed in each of the openings of the links said flats being disposed atan angle to each other so that the first stop engages the cam face onthe pin to limit the pivotal movement of the link relative to the pin inone direction and the second stop engages the cam face on the pin tolimit the pivotal movement of the links relative to the pin in theopposite direction.

6. A support according to claim 1 wherein said restricting meanscomprises a projection extending from the periphery of each of theopenings in said links towards the center of the opening; and saidlimiting means comprises a peripheral slot in each of said pins forreceiving said projections, said slot being large enough to permitlimited movement of said projections in said slot to thereby limit thepivotal movement of said links relative to said pin.

7. In a support for flexible conduit; a plurality of support barscarrying the flexible conduit; a chain assembly connected to each sideof said support bars to carry the support bars and the flexible conduitcarried thereby in a predetermined path of travel, each of said chainsbeing formed by a plurality of links having an opening at each end; apin connecting each of said links to the succeeding link by said openingfor relative pivotal movement within prescribed limits; and limitingmeans operative to limit the pivotal movement between two successivelinks to thereby establish the minimum radius that will be formed by thechain, said limiting means comprise a projection extending inwardly fromthe periphery of each of said openings; and each of said pins beingprovided with peripheral slots for receiving said projections to permitlimited movement of said projection in said slots to thereby limit thepivotal movement. of said links relative to said pin.

l l l

1. In a support for flexible conduit; a plurality of support barscarrying the flexible conduit; a link assembly fixed to each side ofsaid support bars, each of the links therein having an opening at eachend; each of said openings having an axis extending transversely of saidlinks; a plurality of pins with each pin having an axis and extendinginto one of the openings of at least two links with the axes of saidpins remaining fixed relative to the axes of said openings to connecttwo successive links together for relative pivotal movement so that theplurality of links are connected together to form a chain on each sideof said support bars with the two chains carrying the support bars andthe flexible conduit carried thereby; limiting means on each of saidpins; and restricting means on said links for engagement with thelimiting means on said pins to limit the pivotal movement between twosuccessive links to thereby establish the minimum radius that will beformed by the chain.
 2. A support according to claim 1 wherein saidlimiting means on each of said pins comprises a cam face; and saidrestricting means in said link comprises a cam stop for engagement withthe cam face on the cooperating pin to limit the pivotal movement of thelink relative to the pin.
 3. A support according to claim 2 wherein saidcam stop on said link comprises a flat formed in the opening of saidlink complementary to the cam face on said pin for engagement therewithto limit the pivotal movement of the links relative to the pin.
 4. Asupport according to claim 2 wherein said cam stop on said link limitsthe pivotal movement of said link relative to said pin in one direction,and said restricting means includes a second stop for engagement withethe cam face on The cooperating pin to limit the pivotal movement of thelinks relative to the pin in the opposite direction.
 5. A supportaccording to claim 4 wherein said stops are two flats formed in each ofthe openings of the links said flats being disposed at an angle to eachother so that the first stop engages the cam face on the pin to limitthe pivotal movement of the link relative to the pin in one directionand the second stop engages the cam face on the pin to limit the pivotalmovement of the links relative to the pin in the opposite direction. 6.A support according to claim 1 wherein said restricting means comprisesa projection extending from the periphery of each of the openings insaid links towards the center of the opening; and said limiting meanscomprises a peripheral slot in each of said pins for receiving saidprojections, said slot being large enough to permit limited movement ofsaid projections in said slot to thereby limit the pivotal movement ofsaid links relative to said pin.
 7. In a support for flexible conduit; aplurality of support bars carrying the flexible conduit; a chainassembly connected to each side of said support bars to carry thesupport bars and the flexible conduit carried thereby in a predeterminedpath of travel, each of said chains being formed by a plurality of linkshaving an opening at each end; a pin connecting each of said links tothe succeeding link by said opening for relative pivotal movement withinprescribed limits; and limiting means operative to limit the pivotalmovement between two successive links to thereby establish the minimumradius that will be formed by the chain, said limiting means comprise aprojection extending inwardly from the periphery of each of saidopenings; and each of said pins being provided with peripheral slots forreceiving said projections to permit limited movement of said projectionin said slots to thereby limit the pivotal movement of said linksrelative to said pin.